The swamps had actually been surprisingly good to him. Matope, despite growing up in the desert, a complete world away from the swamplands, had found it challenging to learn to swim. But once he found his stride... There was no turning back. Of course, the drastically different climate had played with his mane, too. It seemed to have gone... Poof, to say the least. What had once been fluffy, desert-adapted hair had turned into... Cords was the closest description. It was something of dreadlocks, really. Which he kind of liked. It kept the water out better.
The multi-colored lion stretched out on a bank, enjoying a spot of sun as he took a bit of a nap. Now and then, one gold ear twitched, usually the left.
It had taken some searching, but Pata had finally found Matope. He looked like he was asleep... The white and gray lioness watched for a moment, tilting her head, before she snuck around behind him. Leaning down, she got close to his ear. "Matooope... Wakey wakey..." She nudged him with a paw, trying to stir the massive lion. "Come on, little brother, wake up..." Okay, little wasn't so much the right term... But he WAS younger, and she'd come to see him like a brother. She even treated him accordingly.
One green eye slowly opened, as the painted lion looked over his shoulder. "Why'm I wakin' up?" He stretched, letting out a wide and loud yawn. "It can't really be that important, can it?" What, did somebody lose a leg? Or did a crocodile come to swallow somebody up? Or, worse yet... Were the crocodiles SINGING? He rolled over, both eyes now open just a bit. "It'd better be worth waking me up, Ying-tai..."
The lioness giggled, ears going to the side in amusement. "Silly, don't call me THAT!" She sat next to him, picking a stick out of his mane. "It's not my name anymore." She plucked a leaf out. "It changed earlier! Papa came to me, and gave me my new name!" Here and there, she found other evidence of the swamp life leaving its mark on Matope. He'd certainly grown, that was for sure. With the only exceptions being that giant red lion and some of his offspring... Almost no lions in the pride seemed to match the paint-marked male's size. It made her feel safer, that was for sure.
He blinked, looking up at her. "You got a new name?" He sat up, regarding her. "You HAVE to tell me what it is, as your brother I demand it!" He poked her with a massive paw, eyes glimmering with mischief. "It has to be something great and profound! Or I'l laugh." It wouldn't be out of malice or anything, just an attempt to ruffle her fur. He himself wondered when he'd get his own new name. He'd been in the swamps what felt like forever now, and was excited about the prospect of ditching a name like 'mud blood.' To say his father wasn't proud of his coat coloring was an understatement in Matope's book.
She let out a huff, putting her paws on his side. "Matope, that's mean! You can't possibly laugh at my name!" She was proud of it! Her father had put so much effort into it, too! "Besides, what if YOU get a name worth laughing at a bit? Huh?" She tugged a gold ear, growling a bit like a cub. "Maybe now I won't tell you, unless you promise to NOT laugh!"
The male made as if he were thinking about it, then smiled, pulling the lioness close and giving her a noogie. "Okay, I won't laugh!" Besides, how bad could it be? It wasn't like she'd become Goo'boo ba'noo or something. He felt srory for any lion with that name, for that matter... He then pushed her away, tail flicking. "So will you tell me or not? Now you got me wanting to know!" He inched closer, almost like a cub.
"Oh, fine, I think you've earned the... RIGHT to hear it..." She brushed some dirt off her shoulder, then sat up. After a moment, she cleared her throat. And then did it again. The white lioness closed her eyes, lifting her head. When she peeked an eye open, she noticed Matope giving her an irritated look. "It's Pata'chasi wenzi." She then grinned, leaning down. "It means 'find a great many friends,' for the fact I found friends everywhere I went!"
Matope's ears pricked. No, nothing funny about that name at all! "It's so nice... I like it! It rolls off the tongue.." He nodded, then paused, frowning. "I wonder what mine is..." He sat up, frown deepening. "Do the spirits not want me to have a new name...? Or am I going about it wrong?" He placed his chin in a paw. "What do you think, Pata?" He hoped he hadn't offended any of them.
Pata's ears pricked, before going to the side. "Oh, Matope..." She went over, cuddling against him. "Don't talk like THAT!" Placing one paw on his, the white lioness offered a smile. "The spirits will grant you a new name in due time, Matope! Until then... Why don't you talk to my father?" She nuzzled him a bit. "I'm sure you'll get along with him. He came in from another pride himself, forever ago." How old WAS the gray-maned white lion...?
He thought about it for a moment, before smiling and nodding. "Okay, I'll go talk to him." He slowly got up, shaking his mane and coat out. "Maybe he'll have some insight I'm missing.." He looked at Pata, green eyes dancing a bit. "And then, I'm going to come find you, and dunk you in the water." No reason for it, really, he just wanted to have a little fun. "See how long you can hold your breath!" Before she could swat at him, the burly lion grinned and hurried off through the trees. She wouldn't get him back for that just yet!
Pata's jaw dropped, before she let out a huff. "Oh, Matope, what am I going to do with you?!"
